HIV Prevention

Share

HIV was established as the cause of AIDS in 1983. Since then, we’ve learned a great deal about the ways HIV can be transmitted and prevented. Today, we have an abundance of tools available to prevent HIV transmission. Even without a cure or a vaccine, we have the means to end the epidemic in the United States and around the world.

Consider the following prevention methods:

Get tested. Approximately 25 percent of HIV-positive people in the U.S. don’t know they’re infected. Know your status to protect your health—and the health of others. Click here to find out more about HIV testing.

Practice safer sex. When used correctly and consistently, condoms and lubricant can greatly reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Click here for more info on safer sex.

Use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a pill taken when taken consistently once a day by HIV-negative people has been shown to be very effective in preventing HIV transmission . It is recommended that condoms be used along with PrEP. Click here for more about PrEP.

Get on HIV treatment. Treatment as prevention (TasP) involves prescribing HIV meds to those who are infected with HIV in order to reduce the amount of virus in their blood (and genital fluids) so that they are less likely to infect others. Click here for more info about TasP.

Reduce drug-injection risk. If you inject drugs, never share needles, syringes or other “works.” If unused injection equipment is not available, be sure to clean shared needles, syringes and other works with bleach and water. Click here for more info on safer injecting.

Reduce mother-to-child transmission. If you’re pregnant—or are thinking of starting a family—get tested for HIV. If you’re positive, careful prenatal care, including the use of HIV meds for the mother, can greatly reduce the risk of passing the virus on to the baby to 2 percent or less. Click here for more on preventing mother-to-child transmission.

Take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP involves taking a short course of antiretroviral drugs, usually for a month, after a high-risk exposure. Click here for more about PEP.

The module was created by d’Vinci Interactive and POZ with funding by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). NLM’s HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Program (ACIOP) enables HIV/AIDS service organizations to design local programs that improve access to HIV/AIDS information.

Social Media

Related Sites

Newsletter subscription

Thank you! Please watch for an email from us to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address.

The Captcha is required.

Please select Newsletter option.

Enter Email Address

POZ Email Update

Twice weekly HIV/AIDS news updates

POZ Treatment Email Update

Latest HIV/AIDS treatment info sent weekly

Hep Email Update

Latest hepatitis news sent weekly

POZ Job Posting Alert

Sent whenever new job openings are added

Our site is able to provide content to you for free but we are able to do this by displaying advertisements. We strive to be ethical in our use of ads. Please add our domain to your ad blocker's whitelist.